Delaware State Police

Troopers Investigate Vehicle Crash Involving a School Bus

Presented by the Director of Public Information Sergeant Richard D. Bratz

Bear, DE – Troopers are investigating a vehicle crash that occurred south of Bear this afternoon involving a school bus.

The preliminary investigation revealed the incident occurred around 4:07 p.m. today, Monday, September 12, 2016, as Keith E. Pyle, 40 of Elkton, Maryland was operating a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup truck northbound on Summit Bridge Road behind a school bus. Ashleigh M. Gladden, 24 of Smyrna, was operating a 2006 Blue Bird bus on Summit Bridge road and stopped in the right lane due to another bus stopped ahead with red lights flashing. A Commercial UTZ fleet truck, operated by Steven Williams, 54 of Dover, was stopped directly in front of the bus. The Dodge Ram pickup truck struck the rear bumper of the bus with the front of the truck. After the collision the bus continued northbound and struck the Commercial UTZ fleet truck. The driver and 18 students were on board the bus. The school bus was from the Delaware First State Military Academy.

There were five students reported to have minor injuries and were transported by EMS to the Christiana Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Steven Williams, 54 of Dover, was wearing his seatbelt and uninjured in the crash.

Keith E. Pyle, 40 of Elkton, Maryland, was wearing his seatbelt and was uninjured in the crash. He was ticketed for Inattentive Driving.

The intersection of Summit Bridge road and Red Lion road was impacted for approximately one hour while the crash was investigated and cleared.